The collaboration project, starting in April 2023, aims at the further development and optimization of a novel diagnostic test for the quantitation of virus-neutralizing antibodies. The funding application was co-jointly submitted by Eximmium, Therawis Diagnostics GmbH and the Technical University of Munich. The project will be founded with around 795,000 EUR for two years by the Bavarian Research Foundation.
Background:
The concentration of neutralizing antibodies in blood is a correlate of protection from viral infections. For example, high titers of neutralizing antibodies against Spike, a structural protein of SARS-CoV-2, were shown to be directly associated with a lower risk of infection and protect from severe COVID-19.
However, quantitation of such neutralizing antibodies remains challenging and time-consuming, and requires work with the infectious virus and biosafety level 3 containment precautions. To overcome these obstacles, Eximmium participates in the development of a new, innovative assay principle for the detection of neutralizing antibodies in blood samples by using noninfectious virus-like particles. This assay is safe, virus-free and a promising alternative to conventional virus neutralization tests.
The funding will be used to further optimize the assay by using SARS-CoV-2 as a model system. Additionally, we will transfer the test principle to other relevant enveloped viruses, such as EBV or RSV.
Since 1990 the Bavarian Research Foundation supports innovative collaboration projects in Bavaria that are jointly carried out by science and industry. The foundation is able to fund 30-40 projects annually. For more information, please visit www.forschungsstiftung.de
Related reference: J. Roessler et al., PNAS Nexus, 2022, 1, 1-15.
